~FOOTBALL JOE DACUS PLAYS DESPITE INJURY In any sport, an injury can prove devastating to an athlete, but senior linebacker Joe Dacus was determined not to let a broken wrist keep him from playing football. Known on the football team as "Mega Man" and "One-arm Bandit," Dacus overcame the struggles of pain and the immobility of his right wrist after he broke it Sept. 18 during the game against Valdosta State University in Valdosta, Ga. Dacus wore a hard cast on his wrist that he wrapped in cushion before every game. After games, the cast would be dirty on the inside from sweat and dirt, so he had it removed and recast every week. "He has [become] used to using it," red-shirt fresrunan Rocky Hall said. "We all watch him use it to club people on the field." Freshman offensive tackle Brandon TIttle said he knew what it felt like to struggle through an injury. Tittle said he respected Dacus for playing despite his broken wrist. "Joe is tough/' Tittle said. "He is reliable and displays good leadership qualities." The Bisons fought on the field this season, Dacus' last, losing their final four conference games with a record of 4-5. As the playoffs were no longer an option for the Bisons, the team said they vowed to play for Dacus, who graduated in May. The men's determination paid off, and the Bisons finished with a winning season record of 6-5, ranked sixth in the GSC West Division II. Dacus said he thanked God that he ended up at Harding, and that he loved the coaches under whom he played football. "I love football and I will miss it, but I have no regrets," Dacus said. ''I've played as hard as I [could]." -ASHLEY KElLUM ATHLETICS - 276 THE BISON TEAM 1. Price (1). J. Fairrow (2). T. Daniels (3), R. Knighton{4j, R. Hall (5). R. Towns (6), D. Thomas 0), D.Williams (8), S. Dutile (9). A.Lybrand (10). R. Imtth (11), N. ~osse, (12), CKeese (13), HAdams (14), I Hanson (15), o.. Kn~hton (16)' B. Da.s (17), CRowan (18), I Waru(19)' I 0.6", (lOU Huckeba (21), B5mtth (22), AMitche ll(23), S. Gff'€' (24), 0. Panon (25)' CClark (26)) Banks (27), KW5s (28)' 1 [);C~ (3~), C Perkins (31), B. Bonner (32). N. Noel (33), P. Ga rrett (34), D. Easter(35).1. Fieilo(3n. B. Frank (38), D. Bozanh (39). S.Brown (4Q). A. Norman (42). M. Gaskin (43), I.Post (41)' A. Venable (46), M. Goub (47), I. Burnen (48), RConn (49), J lllison (11), CMahone (52), N. Moreland (14), G.Ia~uc (51), R \iegeI(57), D. Sdundeo (58)' WWerner (61), D. McCany(61), AAllen (67), I Ms (69), E. Foy (70), 1 lehman (71), KHenson (72), KCO lins (74), 1 Itephenson (75), RImie (77), CEvans (78), 1 ~i rd (80), 0. fell" ", (81), 0. Wa. (82), G. Vat5 (83), I Brown(84), 0. 1111500 (87), CHanvey (89), 1 Currie(90) 1. Cavitt (91), M Mdunkins (92), K. Ferrell (93), J. Ellis (94), N. Hoffman (95), K. Wakwe (96), T. Baker (97). ·J.MOHTGOMERY
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